Customer Reviews

Farewell to God: My Reasons for Rejecting the Christian Faith

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In this age of political, economic, ideological and religious marketing it is refreshing to come across such intellectual honesty and personal convictions. He is essentially saying that the philosophical edifice of his previous life was based on what he has come to believe is a lie. Unlike many unbelievers, he does not yell or rail against believers or the Church as an institution, not does he seem to have any scores to settle. Instead, his tone is one of sadness and regret, personal remorse and respect for those who keep the faith that sustained him and has millions of others. He understands the allure of religion, particularly it a social setting. It is one thing not to attend a church; it is quite something else to declare one's opposition to religious teachings.

This is not a literary masterpiece but it is a searching tale of how individual thinking, reason and analysis can lead someone to reject the very foundations of his life. Something of this order occurred when the USSR ceased and honest Socialists admitted that their vision of economics, history and human motivations were abysmally wrong. But religion touches the soul in ways that ideology cannot since it concerns not only the here but the hereafter. While for some, politics is simply another religion, to the vast majority there is a distinct difference.

Templeton traces his life as a convert, scholar and preacher. It appears (and I suspect) there was always a seed of doubt that he sought to banish through good deeds, prayer and simply not entertaining the idea that Christianity is an inspiring fraud. Yet it is our mental faculties which ultimately propel us forward, giving rise to inventions that save labor and pain, to medicines that heal bodies and to material benefits that provide us time to muse on the things of the spirit.

One reason why his experience is rare is that few take the time to study the origins of their religion, read critical analyses but simply accept current teachings wihout wondering how they came to be. He had to overcome shame, a sense of personal failure, the task of telling those he loved that he had made such a decision and yet...he seems to have been set free. A great read.

Charles Templeton's FAREWELL TO GOD is the best layman's first introduction to the problems of orthodox Christianity I have yet read.

The book is divided into forty-six brief and nontechnical chapters, ideal for the average Mortimer or Jacqueline on the street, who can spare no more than a few minutes a day studying something as unimportant as religion.

Although Templeton covers many subjects, he places heavy emphasis upon the Bible. This will be informative for the average Christian, who is likely to have only passing familiarity with most of the Good Book, and will no doubt be astounded to discover some of its contents. In his chapters on the Bible, Templeton usually spends a few pages recounting a story from the book, and then comments upon its implausibility or barabarity. The commentaries are, for the most part, quite obvious, but their value for novices should not be underestimated -- tradition has built such an aura of sacred immunity around the Bible, that most people are in desperate need of someone willing to call a spade a spade.

It is important to emphasize the introductory nature of the book. Templeton does not by any means come close to offering the last word on anything he discusses. He does not even attempt to interact with standard apologetic responses to the kinds of worries he raises. There are also a handful of errors in Farewell to God, such as the staggering mischaracterization of atheism as the claim to absolute certainty (17), without argument (18), that there is no god, or the glaring self-contradiction in which Templeton denies the Bethlehem birth of Jesus in one chapter (85), and presupposes it in another (96). Seasoned fundamentalist apologists, then, will surely consider Farewell to God naive and simplistic (though they will hardly object to the caricature of atheism). Experienced infidels will likewise learn nothing new from Templeton, but they will be more liable to appreciate his eloquence and pointedness. Infidels will also recognize the great value of a forceful initial critique of Christianity: it is surely a good thing for novices not to get bogged down in endless rebuttal and counter-rebuttal during their first steps; for novices, accessibility is the key, and Templeton more than delivers on that count.

In short, I heartily recommend FAREWELL TO GOD as informative to anyone who has yet to read a critique of Christianity, and as enjoyable to experienced religious skeptics. Dedicated fundamentalists, however, should not read it without an ample supply of blood-pressure medicine.

Believers and non-believers have long endured the most frustrating of catch 22's; it is no easier to prove God exists than to prove that he doesn't. I enjoyed Templeton's approach simply because it incorporates common sense in a diplomatic and eloquent vein. Templeton is not attempting to slander any particular faith or to cater to biblical intellects nor does he seem to associate his views with those of a die hard atheist. He, instead, manages to engage his readers in a logical discussion, a 'thinking out loud' kind of conversation that easily intrigues us. I found his questions to be thought provoking and his facts to be credible. Personally, I am far more interested in the views of a former Fundamentalist turned non-believer than I would be of a current non-believer who remains one. Templeton gives us a back seat view that others cannot as easily provide. He poses observations that both annoy and entertain (ie. was God a racist? why the disparity of two versions of creation in the same book of Genesis?) The author opens his heart to the reader and candidly discusses his own deep, personal faith as a young man and the sometimes lonely journey he undertook to the truth. He seems to regard his personal epiphany as much a disappointment as a triumph. Read this book, regardless of your personal convictions! Give yourself the benefit of a well-honed, logical and entertaining argument before you determine your position. It is well worth the time and effort and Mr. Templeton makes the journey a peaceful one!

I won't say this book changed my life or altered my perceptions. At the time I read it, I had long since decided that religion is a profound and insidious man-made evil. What I found most appealing was that Mr. Templeton was a man who for years was the right-hand aide of one of America's biggest proselytizing frauds-Billy Graham. And yet he had the courage to admit that everything his evangelical and fundamentalist cohorts were trying to convince people of (and asking them to donate their hard-earned money for) was based on nothing more substantial than mythological fiction. Templeton overcame the fear that religion has used for millennia to manipulate and control unthinking, faith-blinded billions and for that I admire him. I'm amused at the religionists who have reviewed this book and condemn it for failing to prove that God does not exist and failing to provide a "logical" argument for atheism. Had any of them bothered to study the principles of the logic they seek, they would understand that you can't prove a negative. For instance, I can say that there are millions of enormous invisible pink elephants circling New York City and there is little you can do to prove that there aren't. You can say is that there is no physical or empirical evidence to support the claim (just as there is no physical or empirical evidence to support the claim Jesus was a god who performed miracles, or for that matter that any of the pointless fairy tales in the Bible ever actually occured) but if I can use fear to get large numbers of people to worship the elephants, they suddenly become "reality." As Anatole France said, "If 50 million people believe a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing." The only proof religion has ever been able to offer is "you can't prove it's not true." For centuries religious leaders have profited immensely in money and power by convincing the fearful masses that, despite the complete lack of physical or empirical evidence needed to prove their claims, the pink elephant stories of the Bible occured as described because no one can prove they didn't. I'm glad Templeton chose to leave their vile, corrupt ranks and tell the truth. He's an intellectual hero. If Farewell to God proved anything, it proved that the old saying is true: "For God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son, that whomever shall believe in him would probably believe anything."

I wanted to respond to Samuel Weisman below, who posted among other things this charitable, loving Christian line, "It is comforting for me to know that all atheists will spend their eternity in a lake "brimming with fire and brimstone!" Splendid!" After dealing with years of abuse in an abusive church, I have been contemplating leaving my faith. This was one book on my list that I was considering reading. I am also planning to read some Christian apologetics before making my decision. Yet, when I looked and saw Samuel gleefully gloating over human beings suffering eternal punishment as his sadistic "I told you so", one-up manship; I was reminded of why I left that place of pseudo love to begin with. Why should a loving God want such a hateful attitude in a perfect heaven? But I must thank you Samuel, you have reminded me why I left church to begin with- threats, intimidation and fear do not co-exist with love. Torturing people for eternity with no redemptive or corrective purpose does not coexist with mercy and justice. I hope you don't die and find out we are judged on our attitudes and not our religious system. I'll do well to have nothing to do with this false humility, compassion and love again. Farewell Christianity- guess I don't need this book afterall- Samuel made the authors case.

I had a hard time deciding on the rating for this book. The arguments are familiar to the point of being simple and simplistic but They are significant, especially to those who are just starting to think about their belief systems. Anyone familiar with Richard Dawkins's "The God Delusion," Hitchens's "God is not Great," or Sam Harris's "The End of Faith," knows the arguments about the Old Testament horror and the New Testament hypocrite. If one comes from a religious background and wonders about the Truth of what he has been told about YHWH, Elohim, Jesus, Baal, or any other god can get a baptism from Templeton. If you have had a philosophy of religion class, the problems adduced by Templeton will seem real but almost sophomoric. It's a kind of conclusion about religion that would force itself on anyone who dares read his "sacred texts" with an open mind and a hint of skepticism coupled with a pinch of what we used to call "informal logic" (now termed "critical thinking").

I want to protest those reviewers of this book, the aforementioned triumvirate of modern atheism, and any other books that adduce these and similar arguments that challenge the existence of deities. I read through these reviewers and see one common thread in virtually all of them, they simply dismiss the arguments made by these authors as "old," "simple-minded," "childish," or "naive" but fail to explain why they are so nor do these reviewers often attempt to refute these arguments. When they do, they demonstrate a gross misapprehension about science, statistical reasoning, or the argument itself.

In reading some of the other reviews, I don't believe that enough credit has been given to Templeton. His thoughts and comments seem greatly planned and researched. The book is an increadible journey and eye-opener for many out there. Too many ppl wander through life believing what they've been spoonfed. Open your eyes and think for yourself! Use "your own common sense" I recommend this book to everyone, religious or not. I feel releived to finally know that others are thinking what I have been re: the Church.

Those who rate this book low either have never read the book or they have the fundamentalist tendency which is widely known as blind refusal of critical inquiry where their religion is concerned. This is one of the best books I have read debunking the bible. It does a good job on it's own though (the bible) if you sit down and read it with an open mind though- at least that is what propelled me on my initial search to see if others had had the same experience. Some of the chapters had me laughing so hard I had tears running down my face. This was when Templeton said nothing derogatory, he simply stated the facts of stories and asked the reader to think of the implications of what the story was saying and asking you to believe. He leads a reader to the questions. When you are led to those questions YOUR brain kicks in and you realize what exactly those stories are saying and the implications. Every Christian who does not wish to be a blind follower needs to ask these questions. I read this book not to gloat over Christian beliefs but rather to see what a highly intelligent ex-reverend (Worked with Billy Graham) had to say and what drew him to his conclusions. I don't believe faith & heaven is about following a set of codes. God (if there be one) gave us our minds. Buy this book if you want some insight about what the bible is asking you to believe. It will let you draw you own conclusions: something every MATURE Christian or non-believer alike should do.

As a former Christian and born again skeptic I read this book after reading a number of pro Christian books such as The Case For Christ, Mere Christianity and the Case for Faith.

Templeton's journey from Christian to agnostic seems to have mirrored mine in many ways. Many of the questions and issues that sparked his change are identical to mine.

The book isn't written at a very high level, but I don't think it was meant to be. Its designed for the lay person to understand.

That said, some of his arguments were flimsy. He would often dismiss a Biblical passage, or Christian tenet as absurd or unbelievable, but would not explain his reasons for coming to that conclusion.

Taken as a whole however, this book should raise questions about Christianity with anyone who reads it with an open mind. It is a worthwhile read for any believer who is starting to see holes in what he has been indoctrinated with since childhood.

A couple of years ago I began questioning my comfortable Christian faith, and part of that journey entailed reading books on atheism and evolution. I checked out the usual suspects (Dawkins, Hitchens, and Stenger), and then went on to other, similar works. That research, along with the accumulated baggage of almost twenty-five years of personal experience in evangelicalism, led me last year to leave the Church in favor of agnosticism. "Farewell to God" is my first exposure to an agnostic's critique of Christianity, and it was a bracing confirmation of my decision.

The title "Farewell to God" implies an atheist slant, and I was surprised and pleased about its open-minded agnosticism. I appreciated that distinction since I have no desire to exchange one absolutist position for another. Also, unlike the majority of books I've found that are skeptical of religion, this one was written by a former Christian. The author was something akin to the Canadian equivalent of Billy Graham (they were even friends during the 1950s). He attended seminary and was deeply involved in various high-level ministries. However, nagging doubts about Biblical inerrancy and issues with church doctrines such as eternal damnation finally led Mr. Templeton to renounce his faith in God.

"Farewell to God" documents the author's reasons for leaving Christianity. It consists of various sections with titles such as "The God Myth," "The Christian Church," and "Evil and Good." Within these sections are short chapters dealing with topics that relate to the section's title. For example, under "The God Myth" there are chapters detailing why the existence of various religions undermines the exclusivity of Christianity, how agnosticism differs from atheism, and racial prejudice in the Bible. Throughout the book, I got the sense that Mr. Templeton was simply unable to reconcile his faith with real-life experience, rationality, and scientific research. Indeed, this book's thesis statement is summed up by a quote about Christian fundamentalism on page 136: "It is not a faith for the scholar or the contemplative."

Mr. Templeton (who passed away in 2001) wrote well, and I found his ideas and questions to be logical and easy to follow. Despite his issues and frustrations with the Church, he ultimately didn't seem bitter or nasty towards Christianity, which is a refreshing antidote to the more polemic atheist authors. Even so, I had a couple of minor issues with "Farewell to God." First, I would've liked to have seen more revelations and anecdotes from the author's pre- and post-Christian life so that I could better identify with him and learn from his experience. Although he mentions the shadow that fell over his relationship with Billy Graham, I wanted more details concerning his transition from ministry life to a secular vocation, and how his family and friends responded to and subsequently dealt with his decision. In addition, although the chapters are short and readable, some of them tended to end too abruptly and would've benefitted from more meaty exposition.

"Farewell to God" contains many of the rational reasons (and some of the emotional ones) that prompted me to leave the church, presented in an easy-to-read and non-patronizing manner by a one-time believer. Other interesting books by former evangelicals that would supplement Mr. Templeton's work are "Crazy for God" by Frank Schaeffer and "Reasons to Believe" by John Marks.